Here's a schedule:
- Parking lot opens at hotel check in on Friday (usually 3PM?). People can then park and start setting up. The show is 'on' until dusk - or later, if there are lights in the parking lot. Might be better at night anyway, since it would be cooler. Never seen buyers complain that it's too dark in the morning to shop, so it should be fine in the evening as well. Room-to-room that night.
- Show (inside and outside) continues Saturday at dawn. Auction Saturday night.
- No pack up allowed until Sunday morning, at the earliest.
That schedule allows for those who can't take off a week from work to attend.
Promoters: set the schedule and stick to it. Vendors: attend the show and follow the rules.
If you think about it, a gas show is no different than a trade show: you have vendors/exhibitors, and buyers/attendees. There's a schedule, and anyone who wants to participate follows the schedule. It's as simple as that. For some reason unique to this hobby, some vendors feel they can show up/set up whenever they want, and break down whenever they want. All of this criticism, and sympathy, for the promoters - think how much easier their job would be if the attendees/vendors made it easier for them by following the rules, instead of trying to be first to arrive, and first to leave - all the while posting snarky comments on social media, and trashing the promoters in other media.
There are many annual conventions for other hobbies/hobbyists, several of which are much larger and better attended than Columbus or Iowa Gas, i.e., the Comic-cons in San Diego and other cities comes to mind. I'm pretty sure they don't have people showing up two days early, wanting to set up - nor trying to break down their wares and truck them out of the venue while people are shopping - or people showing up on the day advertised for the show, only to find a half-empty venue.
One last thought: too hot in Iowa in August? Maybe it's time for an indoor venue. I would think, being Iowa, there would be some sort of agricultural complex suitable; maybe not.
